Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry

Established in 2014 to advance the University's strategic goal of making ACU a world-leading institution in religion, philosophy, and history, IRCI includes research programs in Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Philosophy, and Religion and Theology.

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Our people

Our global team of scholars are experts in the fields of religion, theology, philosophy, history, and literature.

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Applicants for PhD and MPhil programs

Applications for fully funded places for the PhD and MPhil programs at Australian Catholic University are now open. For further information, please click on the link below.

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Upcoming Events


Call for Papers

The Loyola Institute and the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry invite papers for "Idol Talk? In the Image of the Disabled God Disability, the Imago Dei and Practical Consequences" to be held on 22-23 May 2025 at ACU's Melbourne Campus.

More information can be downloaded here.

Makarios Conference

The Makarios conference aims to convene scholars from theology, philosophy, history, and the social sciences to explore the past, present, and future of Christianity's complex engagement with character and virtue as it relates to human flourishing. The conference is a joint undertaking of the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University, the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Lonergan Institute and the Colloquy in Historical Theology at Boston College, and the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. The conference will take place 31 May to 2 June 2025 at ACU's Rome Campus.

More information can be viewed here.

Biblical & Early Christian Studies

Biblical and early Christian studies

A major focus of research in this program is the extent to which different strands of early Christianity aimed to define themselves in relation to Jewish and Greco-Roman religious, philosophical, rhetorical, social, and cultural heritages.

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Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Premodern Beliefs and their Reception

This research program explores the ideas, practices, and experiences of beliefs around the world, from the post-Classical era until 1800, as well as their legacies, reception, and afterlives today.

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Religion and Theology

Religion and theology

The IRCI’s Religion and Theology program supports constructive work in the study of religion that incorporates a wide range of methodologies.

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Rome seminars

Scholars from around the world unite at our Rome Campus for the IRCI seminar series each year. These seminars are an opportunity for researchers to collaborate and discuss critical questions to advance research in philosophy, religion, and theology.

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ACU Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry

Mailing address

C/- 115 Victoria Pde
Fitzroy, VIC, 3065.